Subterranean telescoping signs



Jan. 14, 1958 J. D. CLEMENTS, JR

SUBTERRANEAN TELESCOPING S'IGNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1954 INVENTOR. emenzzjfz BDKJ m' L Jacab ZZ Jan. 14, 1958 J. D. ciLEMENTs, JR 2,819,547

. SUBTERRANEAN TELESCOPING SIGNS Filed Jan. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENToR. J5 :027.22 smems, ./H

United States Patent O SUBTERRANEAN TELESCOPING SIGNS Jacob D. Clements, Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.

Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,507

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to collapsible telescoping signs, and more particularly is directed to intermittently used roadway signs which may be stored under the roadway surface and telescoped above the surface for use.

An object of this invention is to provide a iiexible telescoping roadway sign and standard therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sign of the class described for subterranean mounting with moisture seals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sign of the lclass described that is safe in use, and withstands impact without damage to sign or article causing impact, such as a car.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swivelly mounted ilexible sign on a -telescoping molded rubber standard having a water seal with a subterranean cannister adapted to receive said standard and sign.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described that will be simple and economical in construction, and efcient and durable in use.

A particular utility of this invnetion is in streets near schools, churches, playgrounds, parks, and the like, where signs are employed only part of the time during a day, week or year.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from reading the following specification, in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention in operable position with fragmentary showing ofsign member, parts shown in elevated position for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sign member;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. l in stored position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a sign stay taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal crosssectional` view similar to Fig. l showing a modification in the standard using internal and external cooperating collars for wedging the standard members secure in telescoped position; 'and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the sign mounting.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like members are given the same reference numeral, a rigid cannister 1 of any suitable material, such as ceramic, concrete, tile, metal and the like, is sunk in the ground or roadway. The cannister 1 is provided with a hinged lid 2, in a conventional manner, which is flush with the ground or roadway in closed position.

Secured to the top inner surface of the cannister 1 is a molded rubber collar 3 having an upwardly tapering internal surface 4. Preferably this internal surface 4 is circular in cross-section, 'as illustrated.

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 1 4, inclusive, an upwardly tapering hollow molded rubber standard 6, having circular cross-section, has the tapering outer surface of the bottom section 7 thereof ice abutting the internally tapering surface 4 of the collar 3, when the standard is moved upwardly, to secure the standard 6 in upwardly extending position by the friction clamp thereby effected. The respective tapering surfaces 4 and 7, likewise, permit the standard 6 to be moved downward into the cannister 1 by breaking the abutting relationship of the tapering surfaces. The standard 6 is of a length less than the height of the cannister 1.

Positioned in the tapering hollow standard 6 is a tapering hollow standard 8 which telescopes to provide an overlapped abutting external surface near the lower end thereof with the tapered internal surface near upper end of standard 6 to provide a friction clamp therebetween. Usually two such standard sections are suicient, but for greater height multiple telescoping sections may be used having overlapped abutting surfaces in extended position.

A tapered` plug 11 is fitted into the standard S and the external surface of the plug 11 abuts in overlapped relationship the internal surface of the standard 3 near the top portion thereof. A fan-type sign is mounted to the plug 11.

The fan-type sign comprises a plurality of rigid stays 12 in superimposed position pivotally mounted to a pin 14 through a bracket 16 secured to the plug 11. The stays 12 are extended to form a semi-circle and sernin circular fabric 17 positioned over the stays 11 and stitched on both sides of each stay 11. The center stay has a stop in the form of a loop 19 thereon of a size greater than the diameter of the plug 11 to prevent the fan from sliding beyond reach when folded and moved into the standard 8, this loop 19 is also the pull member by which the fan sign is raised until the plug 11 abuts the standard 8, which is then pulled upwardly until it abuts standard 6, raising it until it abuts the collar 3.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, straight hollow standards 21 and 22 are employed with the lower ends of each provided with upwardly tapering external collars 23 and 24, respectively. The upper end of the standard 21 has an upwardly tapering internal collar 26. Collars 3 and 23, and 24 and 26, respectively, provide the taper for abutting overlapped relation to secure the standards 21 and 22 extended, but permit collapsing. A hand press fit plug 27 has a separate top section 28 pivotally mounted thereon by longitudinal bolt and nut assembly 29. The diameter of the aperture 30 of the top section 28 being larger than the bolt diameter, to permit free rotation of this section 28 which has the fan sign mounted thereon through the usual bracket 16, pivot pin 14, stays 12 and fabric 17.

To assure return to proper position of the sign a pair of coil springs 32 are diametrically positioned with the ends thereof hooked in apertures 33 in opposed sides of the standard 22 and in apertures 34 in opposed side stays of the fan sign.

In operation the device is quite simple. Starting from stored position (see Fig. 3), by pulling up on the loop lli, the sign, to which the loop 19 is attached pulls the plug 11 up, which in turn pulls the standards d? and S up in tapered surface engagement to hold the sign erect as illustrated in Fig. l. When the sign with the mounting of Figs. 5 and 6 is accidentally struck-it pivots; and, when the standards are accidentally struck, they yield, but return to normal position.

The cam action of the tapered surfaces provide a water seal to protect the device from accumulated water.

When not in use, the sign is folded and received by the top standard, which in turn is received by the bottom standard; and the whole then received by the cannister and covered by the lid. In the modification of Figs. 5 and 6, the springs 32 are dis-connected from the standard and may then be received thereby, the plug 27 being forced into the top standard 22.

1n Figs. 5 and 6, the sign is raised by a ring, not shown, similar to the ring19 in Figs. 1 and 3; and, the sign is lowered by rst pushing the lower standard 21 into the cannister, disconnecting the springs 32 from the upper standard 22, and then pushing the lower standard 22 into the standard 21, and collapsing the sign and pushing it into the cannister 22.

The invention has been described in detail, but it is clearly understood that it is not so limited; many changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims. For example, the hollow tapering standards can have rectangular or other geometric cross-section other than circular, as cam-friction lock is the feature so obtained; and other expansible sign can be used for fan-type sign, although this is the preferred type. The elements of one illustrated embodiment may be used with elements of other modifications.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a telescoping subterranean sign comprising a cannister and a cover for said cannister, said sign having a stored position within said cannister 'and an elevated position in which it extends upwardly above said cannister, inner and outer telescoping resilient standards positioned within said cannister in said stored position, internal and external tapered surfaces on said outer and inner standards respectively, said surfaces frictionally engaging each other in said elevated position, an internally tapered surface in said cannister frictionally engaging an external tapered surface on said outer telescoping standard to clamp said outer telescoping standard in said elevated position, and a plug in said inner telescoping standard for supporting a display member.

2. A telescoping subterranean sign having a stored position and an elevated position, comprising a cannister, telescoping resilient inner and outer standards positioned within said cannister in said stored position, internal and external tapered surfaces on said outer and inner standards respectively, said surfaces frictionally engaging each other in said elevated position, an internal tapered surface in said cannister, an external tapered surface on said telescoping outer standard, said two last-named tapered surfaces frictionally engaging each other in said elevated position, a plug in said inner-standard, a collapsible display member pivotally connected to said plug, and means for maintainingsaid display member in an expanded position when said sign is in its elevated position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,511 Osborn et al. May 8, 1877 942,490 Dunn Dec. 7, 1909 1,337,947 OToole Apr. 20, 1920 1,383,685 White July 5, 1921 2,325,751 Dillon Aug. 3, 1943 2,354,806 Fletcher Aug. 1, 1944 2,624,307 Cairey Jan. 6, 1953 2,713,327 West July 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,101 Germany Oct. 2, 1887 6,530 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1906 

